A discussion of all things Lakewood and East Dallas from Advocate Magazines

August 2008

Aug 29, 2008

Driving along Alderson toward Richmond yesterday after work, I spotted something strange and unusual. A high school student was standing on the side of the road wearing a tin foil hat, holding a sign proclaiming "The aliens are coming," and shouting things I couldn't hear or understand.

I didn't know whether he had lost a bet, was participating in some sort of sociology project, was a believer, or was just bored. My curiosity got the best of me, and I circled back around.

I kind-a chuckled earlier in the week when I saw an Obama watching party advertised at the Lakewood Theater —I guess I underestimated the amount of nationwide fervor that the Democratic National Convention would generate. Last night, watching the show, I realized that "watching parties" big and small were taking place around the U.S., in Times Square, for example. No matter what your political beliefs, you have to admit the production was rather remarkable. Here's a report from the Lakewood Theater party.

Don’t count on seeing either chef, stars of public TV and the cookbook circuit, when they appear at the Lovers Lane Central Market in the fall. Both of their cooking classes have long been sold out.

In fact, scheduling is so tight that I have been told that maybe, if I’m lucky, I can get 10 minutes to interview Pepin. If you still feel compelled to go, they will be signing their new cookbooks when they’re at Central Market (if you buy the book at Central Market, of course). Yan will probably sign as part of his 6:30 p.m. class on Sept. 19, says the chain’s Aimee Deputy, but details aren’t final. Pepin will sign at 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 8.

Aug 28, 2008

The DISD-student anchored newscast, "School Zone" will air three times this school year on WFAA, Channel 8 at 6:30 p.m. in place of Entertainment Tonight — my guess is it will have a bit more substance.

Catch the first one next Wednesday, and again on Jan. 21 and Apr. 15. A segment about Woodrow's "Sound of Music" production is being touted as a "School Zone" highlight and Woodrow's own Bryce Romney will be one of several students to co-host the program.

Residents across from the Ridgewood sprayground have been living with parking and traffic congestion for the last three summers, ever since the water playground opened. Neighbor Melanie Grimes (who sent the photo of the parking problems — see the sprayground in the background?) told me that this week, "Resident Parking Only" signs went up along the 6700 block of Trammel Drive. Grimes says she and her neighbors have been working with the city for six months to make this happen.

The major reason 100 percent of the block’s residents petitioned the city for the signs? Safety, Grimes says, obviously for neighbors living there, but mainly for the people who have been parking on their side of the street and crossing to the sprayground.

"The sprayground is located just past a dangerous blind turn and next to a fire station," Grimes says, "and we haven’t been able to slow down traffic with speed bumps because of access required by the fire station. Many young children are crossing this street during busy times, particularly when the sprayground first opens in late spring and on weekends during the summer." Also, neighbors have had to deal with danger backing out of their driveways, plus trash and other disrespect for their property.

The signs make Trammel Drive "Resident Parking Only" zone 22 — the 22nd such block to be granted this zoning in the city. Most of the zones are — where else? — Lower Greenville.

Grimes says she wanted to pass the information on to other Lakewood/East Dallas residents who might use the sprayground "so folks aren’t unnecessarily ticketed or towed." That's very nice of her.

Nearly 300 Texas schools have been honored by the Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) for outstanding academic achievement and will be honored in November at a San Antonio awards ceremony. Back Talk reader Kyle Rains points out the neighborhood schools singled out: Lakewood, Bonham and Hexter elementaries. Schools don't apply for this honor; TBEC selects the honored schools based strictly on academic performance compared with other state schools serving similar student populations; a high percentage of students must meet state standards on all tests and the school must receive "commended" status from the state on all tests.

He says he means it, and so I guess we'll take him at his word: How about renaming the city of Dallas after the late California migrant worker organizer. At least, that's Jim Schutze's take on the whole Industrial to Ross to Chavez conundrum in the Observer this week. My favorite part of the column, which talks about the rationale for the change and the implications — Jerry Jones would soon be marketing the "Cesar Chavez Cowboys", just in time for the North Texas Super Bowl!

The owners of Times Ten Cellars (6324 Prospect Ave., Lakewood) just bought a historic factory in Fort Worth for $3.5 million or so, where they plan to set up a second shop.

They hope to open the new winery in August 2009, which will be exactly four years after opening the Lakewood location. The new building will allow them to increase production and distribution. Right now Times Ten Cellars produces 120,000 to 200,000 bottles per year from Texas and California grapes, distributing its wine to 45 restaurants around Dallas, according to a report at Globe St.com.

They also provide a cool little neighborhood social, arts and entertainment venue — now I see ... they aren't so little.

UPDATE: Although Paciugo originally announced a Saturday opening, owner April Walding says it will be Sunday at noon when the doors actually open.

ORIGINAL POST: After months of speculation and more months of construction, Paciugo is ready to open its doors Saturday, August 30, says owner April Walding. The store is located between Professional Bank and Glo Cleaners, across Abrams from the new Whole Foods (click here for a map). The store will open around noon Saturday (April wasn't quite sure about the opening bell as of this morning) and will remain open until 11 p.m., and then be open Sunday from noon-10 p.m. and Monday from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. If you want to confirm the hours prior to heading over there, call the store at 214-828-8777. Construction might not be 100 percent complete for the weekend, April says, but the store will be open anyway.